Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 43 — the rarest trade

ਕੋ ਹੈ ਲਰਿਕਾ ਬੇਚਈ ਲਰਿਕੀ ਬੇਚੈ ਕੋਇ ॥

ko hai larikaa baych-ee larikee baychai ko-ay.

Kabir, how rare are those who sell their son and sell their daughter

ਸਾਝਾ ਕਰੈ ਕਬੀਰ ਸਿਉ ਹਰਿ ਸੰਗਿ ਬਨਜੁ ਕਰੇਇ ॥੪੩॥

saajhaa karai kabeer si-o har sang banaj karay-i. ||43||

and, entering into partnership with Kabir, deal with the Lord. ||43||

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa

In plain words

Kabir says: how rare is the one who will give up even the "mine" they hold most dear,

and become Kabir's partner, trading with the One.

Rare is the one who lets go of clinging and trades with the One.

The deeper layer

It is rare for someone to give up what they cling to most and trade with the One instead.

Like the salok before it, this one uses a shocking picture on purpose. Ko hai larikaa baych-ee, larikee baychai ko-ay: who will sell their son, who will sell their daughter? It is a riddle, never something to do. The son and daughter stand for the attachments we feel we could never give up.

Whoever lets go of them makes a saajhaa, a partnership, with Kabir, and does banaj, trade, har sang, with the One.

Think of a shop where you can only buy the best thing in the store once your hands are empty.

A Question to Sit With

What would it feel like to hold the things you call "mine" a little more loosely?

Translation by Dr. Sant Singh Khalsa·How we use AI

← Verse 100 of 450 Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 42 — burning what holds you back

Verse 102 of 450 →Salok Bhagat Kabir, Salok 44 — every choice has a fruit

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